77: Chapter 77 The teacher is going to check homework again.
Night. The galaxy flickers, the night is still young, the lights are fading, and the moonlight feels cool.
Inside and outside the city are two completely different worlds. The dry heat of the desert was completely shut out the moment one entered the city.
On the balcony of the bachelor apartment, Yun Zhuo was using a clothes pole to collect laundry. In a moment of carelessness, a lacy ball basket fell right onto his face.
He pushed it aside and saw the galaxy and the bright moon reflecting against the city lights. It was so peaceful that it felt unreal.
"Xiao Zhuo, are you done yet?" Teacher Su poked half her head out from the bathroom, clinging to the doorframe like a thief.
"Ah! Coming, coming."
Yun Zhuo hurriedly collected the change of clothes for both of them and trotted happily toward the bathroom.
Teacher Su leaned against the back of the door, bracing herself against it, and extended one hand. "Give them to me."
"Wait, Teacher Su, do you realize that every drop of water you waste might be something someone else had to run several kilometers to get?"
"Really? Is there a water shortage in Dawn City? How come I didn't know?"
"Just because you don't know doesn't mean it doesn't exist." Yun Zhuo placed his hand on the handle outside the door. "Every extra second the shower runs is another layer of despair for those lacking water."
Yun Zhuo tried to push inward, but Teacher Su braced the door tightly.
"Little brat, I know what you're thinking. But our bathroom is too small, as you well know."
"A bit cramped is good; it feels safe."
"Look, you practice the spear; a narrow space will render your length advantage ineffective. Don't you even understand that? Do I have to teach you everything?"
After saying that, she spread her hands toward Yun Zhuo and said, "Give me the clothes. I have to prepare lessons after I finish washing."
"Prepare lessons?"
As soon as Yun Zhuo got closer, Teacher Su snatched the clothes from his hands.
"Why are you still standing there? Hurry up and do your homework. I'm going to check it when I finish washing." With that, she slammed the door shut with a 'clack'.
Yun Zhuo subconsciously pulled on the doorknob and found the door locked from the inside. Do homework? I've already graduated, what kind of ghost homework am I supposed to be doing?
Yun Zhuo looked puzzled. He turned around and saw a small white porcelain soup tureen on the low table in the living room. When did she stew this? How come he didn't see it during dinner?
He walked over, opened the lid of the tureen, and looked inside. It was yam, goji berries, and... ribs? Probably. There were some things he hadn't seen in the original owner's memories, and Yun Zhuo couldn't quite distinguish them.
Next to the soup tureen was a transparent takeaway box containing black mulberries, meant as a dessert after the soup.
Who did Teacher Su learn this from? Does she even know what my Physique is? And she's already started trying to nourish me.
Yun Zhuo grabbed a mulberry and tasted it; it was quite sweet. "Wait!" Yun Zhuo suddenly froze. "How old am I even? And she's already started feeding me these things?"
He suddenly stood up and looked toward the bathroom, really wanting to rush in and spank her. It's only been a few days, and she's already looking down on me?
But he decided to let it go; she probably just watched too many short videos online and took the skits filmed by ordinary people seriously, blindly imitating them.
He sat back down and took a sip of the soup. Must say, this soup was stewed quite fragrantly.
Not long after, Teacher Su came out after her shower, wrapped in a light apricot silk bathrobe. The collar was loose, revealing a bit of her fair shoulders. She held a towel in her hand, bowing her head to gently wipe her wet, long hair.
She was wearing a pair of white slippers, her skin so smooth and tender that it reflected the warm light.
She walked up to Yun Zhuo and glanced at the empty soup tureen. A faint smile curled at the corners of her mouth, a hint of smugness hidden in her eyes.
Yun Zhuo leaned back on the sofa. "I've finished the homework you assigned. When are you going to start checking it?"
Teacher Su smiled and said, "Wait a moment. Let me change my clothes. You sit here obediently and aren't allowed to run around, you hear?"
After saying that, she casually draped the towel over her arm, flipped her long hair back, and turned to go back to the bedroom. Water droplets splashed all over Yun Zhuo's face.
She did that on purpose. Yun Zhuo watched her graceful silhouette, wiped the water droplets off his face, and a sly smile slowly curled at the corners of his mouth.
So you like nourishing me, huh? Just wait, I'll let you know my true strength later, and see if you dare to feed me this random junk again in the future.
When Yun Zhuo came out after his shower, the lights in the living room had been dimmed by Teacher Su at some point.
Hearing Yun Zhuo's footsteps, Teacher Su clicked the bedroom door open and appeared in the doorway, dressed in a professional outfit.
Her long, wavy hair draped over her shoulders. A white shirt was tucked into a professional waist-cinching skirt. She wore glossy black stockings and black-faced, red-bottomed stilettos, and even had a pair of glasses on.
This felt more real than role-playing because she was simply being herself. She used to dress like this when she was at school, though, of course, without the glossy black stockings.
Yun Zhuo's thoughts had just drifted into memory when the sound of Teacher Su's pointer tapping against the doorframe snapped him back to reality.
"Hmph, hmph." Teacher Su cleared her throat. "Student Xiao Zhuo, have you finished your homework? Do you want to check it yourself once more?"
"No need, Teacher. I've already checked it eight hundred times."
"Are you sure? If you get a single question wrong later, I'm going to hit you." Teacher Su raised the pointer in her hand. "You better think carefully."
Yun Zhuo nodded. "I am sure and certain. No need to check again."
"Then come in and let me check it."
Yun Zhuo arrived at the doorway, but before entering, he suddenly asked, "Teacher Su, do you know what 'teaching and educating people' means?"
"Teaching refers to the teacher imparting systematic knowledge and skills to the students. Educating refers to cultivating the students' correct values, moral character, and a sound personality. The two complement each other and neither can be dispensed with."
"Teacher Su, don't tell people you teach Chinese in the future."
"Hmm? Did I say something wrong?" Teacher Su thought about it subconsciously. "That's impossible. What kind of trick are you trying to pull, you brat? No, wait, wait. Am I the teacher or are you the teacher? Stop grinning at me. Go over there and sit down properly."
In the early morning, a few bird calls outside the window lattice woke Yun Zhuo up. He turned his head and looked at Teacher Su, who was fast asleep beside him.
Her sleeping face was as gentle as a pool of still water. A few strands of soft, long hair fell onto her cheek, covering the dark circles under her eyes, while her slightly dry lips revealed a haggard look of dehydration. It was a pitiful sight to behold.
Yun Zhuo moved extremely lightly, wanting to slowly withdraw his arm that she was holding in her embrace. But just as he pulled it halfway out, he saw her eyelashes tremble, and she slowly opened her eyes.
"Is it dawn?" She looked at Yun Zhuo with sleepy eyes, her hoarse voice sounding weak and listless.
"Yeah." Yun Zhuo tucked her hair behind her ear. "It's still early. Get some more sleep."
"I'll go make you breakfast first. I'll sleep after you leave the city later."
Yun Zhuo hurriedly pressed her shoulder, making her lie back on the pillow. "We aren't leaving the city today; we're resting for the day. I'm going to go see Principal Ren in a bit; I have some things to discuss."
"Oh..." She was truly too tired and fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.
Yun Zhuo went outside the residential complex and packed Teacher Su's favorite sweet potato porridge, a steamer of soup dumplings, and some milk.
Upon returning, he saw she was still asleep, so he placed the breakfast on the table, heated up the milk he had just bought, and brought it into the bedroom.
Actually, Teacher Su could also share Yun Zhuo's recovery ability, but that would require the second form, which would be equivalent to transplanting Yun Zhuo's corrosion energy furnace into her body.
Looking at Teacher Su's pitiful state, if she couldn't recover, then the only option was to carry her to the rooftop for Body Integration.
"Wake up, drink a cup of milk before sleeping. Look at you, you're dehydrated."